Araba Aidoo-Apau

Dr. Aidoo-Apau earned her Ph.D in African Studies from Howard University, where her research examined the intersections of diaspora engagement, identity formation, and Pan-Africanism through Ghana’s 2019 Year of Return Initiative. Her research has critically explored how transnational migration shapes contemporary African diasporic identities and experiences.

Dr. Aidoo-Apau also holds a B.A. in Political Science and African American Studies and an M.A. in Africana Studies from the State University of New York at Albany. Prior to joining Connecticut College, she taught history and English in K-12 schools, working with predominantly Black and Brown students and supporting efforts to close education achievement gaps. She later transitioned into public policy, where she collaborated with policymakers and advocates, working to advance reproductive justice for Black women.

As the daughter of two Ghanaian immigrants, and having been born and raised in New York City, Dr. Aidoo-Apau’s experiences with navigating multiple cultural identities have shaped her scholarly interests in examining how cultural, social, and geographic contexts influence one’s socio-emotional development. Her work further explores the historical impacts of colonialism on Black communities and how these legacies shape understandings of Black identity and belonging. Her scholarship draws upon the works of scholars such as Dr. Amos Wilson, Dr. Joy DeGruy, and Frantz Fanon.

This fall, Dr. Aidoo-Apau will be teaching Inquiry in Black and Introduction to Human Development. She is excited about engaging students in interdisciplinary conversations about Blackness, identity, and psychosocial development throughout one’s life span.